São Paulo, 2022 - Located on an important avenue in Vila Velha, Espírito Santo, Brazil, the brazilian architecture office Biselli Katchborian Arquitetos Associados designed the head office and annex building for an important glass and auto parts company in the country.
Built on land with a steep slope towards a privileged view of a forest, the main building was built from an axis perpendicular to the road, guiding the implantation and the accesses, which both are made through the street on the north face and the parking lot on the south face. The sidewalk was widened to, besides giving more comfort to pedestrians, also accommodate the large flow of employees and customers.
At the entrance, a generous metallic marquee shades and demarcates the arrival on both sides of the building. The large atrium, with a height of 20 meters and glazed closures, articulates the two main volumes of the project - facing east is the block with the cafeterias and decompression areas, and to the west, in a north-south orientation, are the work areas, directors' rooms, and meetings.
The annex building was built parallel to the refectory and decompression area block to create a tree-lined plaza. It houses a number of spaces with services for employees, such as a gym and a game room.
The administrative headquarters and its annex were designed in metallic structure and a ventilated facade system was adopted. Both the constructive logic and the colors employed in the façades and interiors echo the automotive universe and the precision of its industry, besides helping in the identification and legibility of the spaces.
During construction, the challenge was to find solutions to benefit as much natural lighting as possible without the building getting too hot due to the heat of the region. Thus, to ensure thermal comfort, façades were developed with solar shading positioned according to the most appropriate solar orientation for that certain portion of the building. The project also included a set of water mirrors and landscaping elements, designed to reduce temperatures and promote the users' well-being.
Team:
Architecture: Biselli Katchborian Arquitetos Associados
Responsible Architects: Mario Biselli and Artur Katchborian
Project Team: Cassia Lopes Moral (coordinator); Victor Piza, Fiona Platt, Mauricio Addor, Carla Gotardello, Stephanie Luna, Anna Luisa Segete, Hugo Rossini, Caio Camillo, Luiza Franklin, Giuliano Chimentão, Lucas Reis, Eduardo Amaro, Carolina Gomes, Diego Tagawa, Camila Bevilacqua, Raphael Franco, Marco Aurélio de Toledo, Julio Cesar Farias e Lorraynny Cruz (collaborators).
Materials used:
Steel Structure: Medabil and ML Faria
Concrete Structure: Vertiko Engenharia Estrutural
Foundation: Geoconsult
Waterproofing: Impertop
Acoustics: Akkerman Alcoragi Acústica Ideal
Electric and Hydraulic Installations: PQR MA2
Electronic Systems: Wetron
Air-Conditioning: EPT Engenharia
Thermal Comfort Consulting: Projetarg
Anti-Fire: Usina Consultoria e Projetos
Masonry and DryWall: FCH Consultoria
Frames: Arqmate
Visual Communication: BK + Griffa
Lighting: Foco Luz e Desenho
Earthmoving and Drainage: Infraestrutura Engenharia
Landscaping: Benedito Abbud
Irrigation: Regatec
Monobeton: Concrete Floor
Construction: Libercon Engenharia